Vehicle wheel-tire.



J. A. GERHART.

VEHICLE WHEEL TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.12. 1011.

1 87,753, Patented Sept. 3,1912.

. wy mm To all whom it concern UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

abau A. (imam, or MARIETTA, 01110.

I VEHICLE WHEEL-TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented sea. 3-, 1912.

Application mm October 12, 1911. Serial in. 354,332.

Be it known that I, JOHN A. GERHART, a citizen of the United, States, residing at Marietta, in the county of ashington and State of Ohio, have invented Certain new tires and-., ;which' w and useful Improvements in Vehicle Wheel- Tires; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will'enable others skilled and use the same.

l This invention relates to improvements in tires for vehicle wheels.

The object of the invention is to provide a resilient tire desigped to replace pneumatic.

renders the-pneumatic tire. objectionable.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and the arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be-more particularly described and afterward specifically claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation with parts broken out 'of a portion of a vehicle wheel equipped with this improved tire; Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig.

.30 1; Fig.3 is a perspective view of a ring saddle.

In the embodiment-illustrated, a is shown, such as is ordinarily used on motor vehicles and which is secured to the wheel spokes in any suitable or desired manner,

and to which is removably applied an auxiliary rim 1. -Arranged at suitable intervals on the periphery of this rim lare grou s or series of posts or studs as 2 agroup 0 said studs being preferably disposed over each of the wheel spokes, as shown in Fig. '1. Any desired number of posts may-be employed in each group an the posts ofthe respective groups are arranged transversely of the rim 1 in alinement with each other "and 'spaced a suitable distance apart to sup- ,po'rt the. outer rim to be described. ,Two

i [posts are here shown in each group, but it according to the width of the rim and the Y thhtuds 2 and comprises a ripherally spaced ring sadd will be understood that more may be used weight of the vehicle to which the tire is to be applied.

An ,puter rim is yieldablyt supported on plurality of pees' 3 connected by a plurality of peripherally arranged in the art to which it appertains to make are 385G111 ile affording ample resiliency is: not subject to puncture which' rings, as will be hereinafter more specifically described. 7

. Arranged over each series of studs or posts 2 is a ring saddle 3 of any suitable width and of a length corresponding to the width of therim 1, the opposite en s being preferably beveled or inclined downofthese saddles wardly and inwardly as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. These saddles 3 are provided on their lower or inner faces with tubular socket members 4 ositionedto slidably en the rim 1- when the parts ppsts 2 o led (see Fig. 2). Coiled springs 5 of suitable strength encircle said posts and sockets and bear at their opposite ends against the rim 1 and the saddles 3, exerting gage the their tensiont-o force and hold said saddles I side walls of the grooves holding said rings against lateral movement. Any desired number of these rings 7 may be employed accordin to the size thereof and the weight of the ve icle to be supported. These rings are preferably constructed of spring steel -rods, having their ends welded together. The saddles 3 are rovided at their opposite ends near their ower edges with transversely extending grooves as 8 which are designed to receivethe upper rings 9 of. dust guards 10 which are connected at their other ends with the rim 1 by means of inner rings 11 which fit in grooves 12 in-saidrim,

(see Fig. 2- These dust guards 10 are com osed 0 any suitable flexible material, pre erably of canvas and serve to protect the socket members and posts with the springs mounted thereon and prevent them from becoming clogged with dust or mud which would interfere with their operation.

The upper rings 9 of the dust guards are. bent at intervalsto provide o'fi'sets 13 which:

are adapted to fit around the ends ofthe saddles 3, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. Plates 1'10 l l are secured to the ends of the saddles 3 by screws or other suitable fastenings, and 1 so I . them securely the springs are placed on the socket members 4 and said socket members slidably engaged with the posts 2. Clamps are then placed on the saddles and rim 1 to force the saddles inwardly against the tension of the springs 5 and when so held, the rings 7 may be quickly and easily seated in the grooves 6 of said saddles. The rim 15 is then placed on the rings 7 and the rim 1 will be ready to slip on the permanent rim of the wheel. When the clamps are removed, the springs 5 will immediately expand to force said saddles outwardly and securely hold the ings 7 against accidental displacement, and secure engagement with the tread member 15. It will thus be obvious that when the wheel passes over an obstruction, the springs 7 and 5 will yield in the same manner as does a pneumatic tire.

The tire is especially designed to be used with any wheel and may be readily substi-' tuted :tor a pneumatic tire when desired.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of my invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

I, Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the claim without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the claimed invention.

I claim as my invention:

A vehicle tire comprising a rim having peripheral grooves in itsouter face near its opposite edges, ring saddles resiliently mounted on said rim transversely of the tire and inclined downwardly a'nd inwardly and having grooves at their lower edges, a plurality of rings mounted on said saddles, means for holding said rings on said saddles, a tread element engaged with said rings, flexible dust guards arranged at opposite sides of said tire and having securing rings attheir opposite edges for engagement with the grooves in said saddles and rim, the outer guard securing ring having ofisets to fit around the ends of the saddles and provide for the close fitting of the guard at the sides of the tire, and plates secured to the ends of the saddle withtheir inner edges overlapping the outer rings of said guard.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- JOHN A. GERHART.

Witnesses:

GEORGE O. SALZMAN, Anon. A. SCHRAMM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, D. 0. 

